We have miles on AA to get us to london. they don't seem to have connections to florence, italy. thus we will have to buy tickets on ???? what airline to get to florence or possibly milan or pisa? then how get to florence, if fly to pisa or milan? (we have a place to stay in london, so can stop on way back as well to pick up all the luggage the discount airlines won't allow us to take).

I know Ryan air goes to Rome for $99. It probably goes tp Florence also.

Ryanair goes from London to Pisa.
Check http://www.whichbudget.com for other possibilities.

You can take BMI to Milan from Heathrow.

then how get from milan or pisa to florence? train or??? - how long a ride - how much - how near the airport, etc.?

No airline flies trans-atlantic to FLR (Florence Peretola); it's a very small airport.

Opodo.com is the "orbitz" of Europe - - though I haven't found any bargains with the mainstream airlines; perhaps whichbudget.com can lead you to select a different gateway airport.

Best wishes,

Rex

Hi Joan,

There is a direct train from Pisa airport to Florence - 1hr.

Except for flying into FLR, this is the most convenient.

I was reading you can take a bus or train from Pisa airport to Florence, but you'll have to search for more details. There are several Milan airports, but I'm sure it's relatively simple to get to the train station by one means or another. The Ryanair.com and EasyJet.com sites have information about airport transportation. Also check http://www.trenitalia.it .

British Airways flies from Gatwick to Pisa. Ask American about it's European airpass (oneworldproducts.com) which lets you tack on intra-European flights with oneworld alliance partners at a reduced cost if you are flying American, British Air, Iberia, or?? transatlantically.

Pisa is as noted, about an hour on the train from Florence.

Good luck!

So does ANYONE fly direct from one of London's airports to florence?

There is a bus from Pisa airport to Florence for 7E. www.terravision.it

Alitalia flies to Florence via Milan. I think you have to get off and change planes in Milan.

Your best bet is probably going London-Pisa, then taking the train to Florence.

I think you may find what you're looking for at www.meridiana.it

There are two airports considered Milan airports. Milpensa that is the largest and for interntation flights and Linate that are for "local" flights. I think, but not positive, European flights all fly into Linate.

Also Ryanair flies into Bergamo airport but calls it Milan. That's the other airport I was thinking of.

Joanel: I agree with you. You don't seem to be getting straight answers!
British Airways flies non stop from London Gatwick to Florence,,,a great flight, we did it a couple of years ago.
We took American from Dallas to London., but it might be a misconnect, overnighting in London. Anyway, you can get your ticket to FLORENCE from U.S., I think...on points, but not sure.
American use to be connected with British Airways, but am not sure they still are. Just ask them..If not then you'll just have to buy a ticket RT London...Florence. OR a ticket on one of the discounted airlines...which may not be much cheaper than BA. But AA should be able to answer all your questions.
You could also take AA to Paris, and I know there is an Air France non stop to Florence also.

WillTravel, thanks, I didn't even know that Bergamo had an airport!
The info one learns on Fodors

I fail to see how suggesting Meridiana, which offers flights between Gatwick and Florence, is not giving a straight answer.

Hi Joan,

Have you looked at www.whichbudget.com?

Try calling AA again. Ask to use your miles to fly direct to Florence with a stopover in London. You can also ask for an 'open jaw' award to fly to Florence (with the stopover), and fly back from a different city. You will spend the same amount of air miles, so try for it. You may have to call more than once, since the agents are not always helpful, but they usually are. Good luck.